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TEHRAN, Mar 01 - Britain has been angered by the European Union’s taking side with Spain over its oversees territory on which Gibraltar airport is built,; in the latest sign of widening divisions ahead of Britain’s withdrawal from the union.
TEHRAN, Young Journalists Club (YJC) - A British government spokesman lodged a complaint with Brussels over its support for Spain’s territorial claim over a land — ceded to Britain in 1713 — saying London is “certain of our sovereignty over the whole of Gibraltar.”
“We disagree with the language inserted by Spain in relation to sovereignty over the land on which the airport is built as it does not recognize the UK’s position on sovereignty,” said the spokesman.
“We are also disappointed that the text that will go forward for adoption does not cover Gibraltar,” he said referring to the EU’s no-deal legislation, which failed to mention UK’s claim over the territory.
According to the legislation, direct flights between the UK and EU destinations will continue to operate for nine months, should the EU and UK fail to reach a Brexit deal,
The legislation notes that the regulation is “without prejudice” to the “position of the Kingdom of Spain with regard to the sovereignty over the territory in which the airport of Gibraltar is situated.”
The British government also expressed “its regret that Gibraltar has not been included in the scope of this measure and reiterates its intention that, when it comes to the future relationship with the EU, it will negotiate on behalf of the entire UK family, including its overseas territories.”
The disputed territory includes an 800 meter isthmus with mainland Spain, on which two housing estates and the airport are located.
Madrid, which continues to dispute Britain’s sovereignty over the strip, has been seeking to take advantage of the Brexit stand-off as to open discussions over joint sovereignty of the territory in the wake of Britain’s exit from the EU.
A confrontation occurred in the waters off Gibraltar earlier this month, when the UK sent a warship to respond to an alleged violation of UK sovereignty over the territory by a Spanish warship.
Spanish warship ordered commercial ships docked at a Gibraltar port to leave the overseas UK territory which lies on the southern coast of Spain.
Spain’s Cabinet is set to adopt a Royal Decree on Friday, setting out “temporary and unilateral” contingency measures “to protect Spanish interests and, in particular, those of the Campo de Gibraltar,” in the event of a “no deal.”
News of the proposal came after Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez called on his British counterpart Theresa May not to prolong the uncertainty of Brexit
May admitted for the first time on Tuesday that her country may not leave the EU on March 29, offering MPs a chance to vote to delay Brexit if her deal is rejected again next month.
She has now promised that if her deal is voted down, lawmakers will get a chance to vote on whether to leave with no deal, or to ask the European Union to delay the deadline.
Source: Presstv
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